Apparatus for working sheet material



April 3, 1951 F B, PFEWFER 2,547,836

APPARATUS FOR WORKING SHEET MATERIAL Original Filed Nov. 6, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1\ "mM-'M v INVENTOR @www ATTOIZN EYS Apri! 3, 1951 F. B. PFEIFFER 2,547,836

APPARATUS FOR WORKING SHEET MATERIAL Original Filed Nov. 6, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Me/AMA.. 4W

ATTO NEYS Ap 3, 1951 F. B. PFEIFFER APPARATUS FOR WORKING SHEET MATERIAL Original Filed Nov.6, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l Ffm 13g/'25 m AY. Z

TTENEYS Patented Apr. 3, 1951 APPARATUS FOR WORKING SHEET MATERIAL Fred. B. Pfeiffer, Akron, Ohio Original application November 6, 1945, Serial No. ($47,063. Ulviued and this application February 27, 1947, Serial No. 731,3:43

13 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of Wrapping articles and to novel apparatus for The invention contemplates Wrapping or packp aging either partly or completely various objects with a film or sheet of such a nature as to be capable of conforming to any desired shape to accommodate the object or article or material being Wrapped or packaged. In some practices ,Y

of the invention such film or sheet material is preferably moisture proof `and impermeable to air and other gases and is heat scalable, that is, capable of having engaging portions fused when heated. One such material which is suitable for practicing the invention and which is commercially available is av rubber hydrohalide, more specically a rubber hydrochloride, manufactured by the Goodyear-Tire and Rubber CompanyofAkron, Ohio, under the trade name of Pliolm, such material being more specifically described in the A,Calvert Patent No. 1,989,632 of January 29, 1935.

One feature of the invention contemplates heating and stretching appropriate strips `of vwrapping material in such manner as to reduce the thickness of such strips without a substantial decrease in the width or surface area of said strips.

Another feature of the invention 'resides in novel combinations of simple mechanical elements making possible rapid repetition of Vpackyaging operations.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision for supplying lm or wrapping material to a packaging station in a heated and softened condition suitable for the stretch-wrap packaging operation and the provision of heated means adapted to operate on restricted areas of the film or wrapping material whereby to fuse said film or Wrapping material to partly or completely enclose an object, article or material being wrapped in said film or wrapping material and to secure the nlm or wrapping material about said object, article or material and to sever the separate packages one from the other.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision for supplying a uniform temperature to the film or wrapping material before it reaches the wrapping station.

Another feature of the invention is the elimination at the wrapping or packaging 'station of any heated member o1 any substantial volume and thereby protectlng the nlm or Wrapping material from transferred heat sufficient to materially an'ect the temperature of the lm or wrappmg'material.A

Another feature of the invention is theA provision in a wrapping machine of means for relative adjustment of its parts to facilitate interchange o1' cooperating wrapping station inembers whereby'dir'rerent sizes Vand shapes of objects, articles or material may be Wrapped or packaged on the same machine. I

One form of the invention, as practiced in covering confections such as lollipops, comprises ordinary supporting members on which is mounted a conveyor provided with successively spaced tubular sockets ,adapted to receive the handle of a lollipop to` be. wrapped and to retain the body portion ofthe lollipop in anupright position above the conveyor and to advance it into and through a Wrapping station consisting of rotating cooperatingmembers around which are lead converging strips of film or wrapping mate- Arial between whichAv the lollipop is fed and Wrapped. One of the cooperating members of the Wrapping station is provided on each of lits circumferential edge portions with a heated wire retained in a groove, said Wire in operation being heated toV a temperature sufficient to fuse the converged strips of iilm'or Wrapping material as the converged strips are pressed together against said circumferential wire by a cooperating circumferential raised portion on the other cooperating member. In this form of the invention this circumferential wire is heated hot enough to fuse but not hot enough to sever the lm or wrapping material. However it is to be understood that in other forms this circumferential wire-may be hot enough to both seal and sever the film or wrapping material. One of the said cooperating members is provided on one or more transverse portions with a heated wire which is also retained and suspended in a groove said wire being heated to a temperature sufcient to both fuse and sever transversely the said converged strips as they are pressed together against the transverse wire as the transverse wire enters a cooperating groove in the other cooperating member. Obviously the placement of these wires, grooves and raised portions of the cooperating members may be in any one of several practical arrangements and such changes are Within the conception of my invention,

device on the order of a paddle wheel.

Converging strips of lm or wrapping material of proper width are led from two supply rolls toward each other, rst onto a driven take-off roll and then across a space onto a driven heating roll and next onto the cooperating packaging station members. I prefer to have the surface of the heating roll and the cooperating packaging station member Contact although it is to be understood that they may be spaced apart if found desirable and driven at different surface speeds. In the present arrangement the supply roll is an idler roll with a brake. The take-off roll has a surface speed of less than that of the heating roll so that as the strip material passes between them it is put under tension but since the strip of material is relatively inextensible until heated it does not stretch until it becomes heated by close association or contact with the heated roll thus localizing the stretching area of the vsaid strip to a narrow transverse area substantially at the Vcontact point of the strip and the heated roll. The curved surface of the heated roll anchors and prevents the edges of the strip "of lm or wrapping material from converging and the unheated portion of the strip being relatively inextensible does 'not stretch and 'therfore does not narrow. Accordingly it will be seen that this arrangement permits, if desired, an

extreme stretching of the strip longitudinally with practically no narrowing of the strip in width.

The cooperating members of the wrapping or packaging station are mounted for simultaneous rotation in opposite directions. These cooperating members have their surfaces formed with cavities of a size larger than the body portion of the lollipop to be covered. Or these said cooperating members may be in the form of a pair of annular Asupporting members spaced from each other in axial alignment and mounted for rotation in unison and having one or more 'circumferentially spaced cross-members which may be in the form of avbar or bars to form a squirrel-cage-like device. or the peripheral cross-members may extend to a hub to form a In any of these arrangements or modifications thereof the strips of lm or wrapping material are led softened by heat and under tension and therefore capable of stretching down about the said edges. The strips will be bridged over the edges and the cioss-members of the wrapping station and the body of the lollipop being conveyed toward the wrapping station by the conveyor, as has been described, passes into the bite of the wrapping station members, the movements of the feed of the lollipop and the rotation of the cooperating wrapping station Vmembers being timed so that the lollipop is caught between the strips of lm or wrapping material at a point over cooperating cavities or openings in the wrapping station members. The heated and softened film stretches about the lollipop body and is fused together about it by the separate strips of film being pressed together against the said circumferential heated wire and accordingly successive lollipops are wrapped and the wrapped lollipops separated from each other by the web of fllm or wrapping material of the two strips between the successive lollipops, being pressed against the heated wire suspended in the groove of the transverse or cross-member of the wrapping station and thereby being both fused together and severed transversely between the said wrapped lollipops, thus completing ythe wrapping of the confection.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein one form of the invention has been shown by `way of illustration, and wherein AFigure fl is a fragmentary side view of one form of machine for practicing the novel method in conjunction with the wrapping of confections;

Figure 2 is a sectional front end view thereof;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the same;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the course of the film or wrapping material from the supply roll about the various members of the apparatus to its position on objects being covered;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail side view showing means for maintaining the proper elevation and correct spacing of lollipops as they enter the wrapping stations;

Figure 6 is a front view of the members comprising the wrapping, sealing and severing station;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring shown in Figure 6 and electric current delivery means to said wiring;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Figure 6 and drawn to larger scale;

Figure 9 is a detail cross-sectional view of the film or wrapping material heating roll showing the heat supply means, the heat stabilizer liquid and the thermostatic control thereof. v

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that the invention as therein illustrated is embodied in a machine for wrapping va confection of a type known as lollipops. Each confection comprises a handle A, having on one end a piece of candy B of any ordinary or preferred size and shape. A plurality of these confections are placed successively in a series of tubular sockets I carried by an endless conveyor belt II which runs over and between a pair of suitable idler pulleys, not shown, which guide and tension the belt. The belt II is supported in its forward travel on angle iron members 22.

The sockets II] are attached to the belt II by the belt being clamped between units I2 and I3 which are screwed on suitable threads not shown on the ends of sockets III. It is to be understood that the nut I2 may be so shaped as to facilitate the easy insertion of the end of the handle A into the socket I0 as for example by covuntersinking or f-unneling. The nuts I2 and I3 engage driven sprockets Id and I5 whereby the belt II is actuated. The sprockets Ill and I5 are spaced apart to permit the belt II to pass between them. These sprockets I4 and I5 are slidably attached by means of splined key to a driving shaft I6. The driving shaft I6 is driven through a reduction gear II, pulleys IB and I9 and belt 20 driven rby a motor 2I. The pulleys I8 and I9 are held suitably attached to the drive shafts of the reduction gear II and the motor2l.

The driving mechanism just described is supported on an iron angle member 30 which in turn amasser s supported by means Yof adjusting bolts 3| rigidly attached to angle member 30 and adjustably attached to an angle member 32 by means of adjusting nuts 33 and 34. The angle member 32 is supported by suitable legs 35.

The iron angle member 39 also serves as a support for two bearings 48 which support two bearing support rods 4|. Slidably adjustable on rods 4| are mounted feeder roll bearings 42 and 42e; heater roll bearings 43 and 43a; cooperating wrapping station member bearings 44 and 44e; and sprocket chain tension adjustment bearing 45. These bearings are of a conventional split bearing type which allow for the removal and replacement of the shafts that operate therein by removing the cap of the bearing from the portion of the bearing which is held in position on the slide rods 4|. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that these said caps are attached to the slidable portion ofV the bearings by means of slotted cap retainer screws shown butnot identified. Said bearings 42, 42-"-, 43, 43a, 44, I4a and 45 are held in any: desired position on the slide rods 4| by means of set screws 41. Accordingly these bearings can be moved to any desired position on the slide rods to accommodate various diameters of rolls and wrapping station members which may be found necessary to use in wrapping articles of various sizes. It willV also be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that the complete assembly supported by angle 39 may be raised or lowered to any desired operative position by means of its supporting rod 3|, being raised or lowered by adjustment of locking nuts 33 and 34. It is `pointed out that as this assembly is raised or lowered the shaft I8 will slide through the sprockets I4 and I5, leaving said sprockets in their proper plane in referenceV to the belt I I.

ltotatably mounted in bearings 42 and V42al are feed rolls 59 and 5|)a respectively with sprockets 5| and 5|a attached to feed rolls 5B and 59a respectively. RotatablyV mounted in bearings 43 and 43a are heater rolls 52 and 52e respectively with sprockets 53 and 532 attached to heater rolls 52 and 52a, respectively. Also rotatably mounted -in bearings 44 and 41|a are wrapping station memybers54 and 54arespectively with sprockets 55 and 55a attached to wrapping station members 54 and 54a respectively; Rotatably mounted in 4bearing 45 is sprockety chain tension adjustment sprocket 56. A sprocket chain 51 is driven by means of sprocket 58 attached to driving shaft -'|6. This sprocket chain 51 drives sprockets 5|, "5|a, 53, 53e, 55, 55aand 56.

Film or wrapping materialY supply rolls C and 14 and 14e respectively pivotally mounted on `brackets 12 and 12a by means of pivot pins 15 .and 15a. The brake-shoe 14 and 14a are held in lfrictional contact with the supply rolls Cfand D respectively by means of tension springs 16 and 16a respectively.

Strips E and F are progressively drawn from -supply rolls C and D respectively by means of the driven roll 59 and 59a respectively. These rolls 50 and 5!!EL are not heated and have suicient .frictional surface contactV with the strip of film or Wrapping material to prevent any slippage of the said nlm or wrapping material on the surface bf the `rolls ,59 -or 58a. The surface travel of AIl@ at apoint H5.

rolls 58 and 5|]a are governed by the ratio of the number of teeth in the sprocket 5| and 5|a respectively to the drive sprocket 58. i

Strips E and F travel from roll 50 to roll 52- and from roll 50a to 52a. The rolls 52 and 52a are heater rolls and are spaced sufficiently to' prevent any substantial transfer of heat from the said heating rolls to the rolls 59 and 50e, thus maintaining the material of E and F in a relatively cold condition until it comes into close proximity with the said heated rolls. These heated rolls 52 and 52e consist of a rotatable cylindrical liquid container member 52 and 52a containing a liquid 89 for retaining heat at a constant temperature. Emersed in the liquid are heating elements 8| and 8|a and a thermostat 82 for regulating the temperature of the said liquid. The said heater members 8| and 8|e and the thermostat members 82 and 82a are rigidly supported on bearings 43 and 43a with the result that the liquid in the revolving members 52 will be agitated by means ofthe stationary members 8| and 8|a and 82 and 82a and thereby insure a uniform temperature throughout the liquid and also prevents localized heating of the liquid retaining member in the wall adjacent to the heater element. The said strips E and F continue their travel by passing between roll 52 and wrapping station member 54, and roll 52a and wrapping station member 54e, these wrapping station members being cooperating members between which the strips E and Fconverge in portions of the said strips, surfaces whereby the strips are stretched about the lollipop or other article or material to be covered.

The member 54 consists of a frame comprising disk-like end portions 90 and 9|, and transverse connecting members 92. This member 54 is supported on shafts 93 and 94 and a shaft 93 is attached to the driving sprocket 55 while the shaft 94 is extended below the angles 22 where it is pulled toward a shaft |94 in any suitable manner as by means of a tension spring 95 the end of the shaft |54 being extended from wrapping member 5de. Adjacent to portion 90 is mounted in a suitably insulated manner an electrical collector ring 95 and adjacent to member 95 is a second `insulated electrical collector ring 91. Traversing the length of bars 92 and in their outside faces vare grooves 98 'and 98a. In end portion 9| are formed semi-circular grooves 99 adapted to receive the handles A of the lollipops B, permitting said handles A to lie below the periphery of the end member 9|. In the peripheral edges of end members 99 and 9| are formed grooves and |I| respectively. A resistance Wire ||2 is attached at one end to collector ring 91 and is extended through an insulated channel, not identied, to a groove at a point ||3 at which point'it is brought to the bottom surface of the groove This wire |I2 extends around the 'bottom of the said groove |I| 'to a point ||4.

From point ||4 the wire ||2 continues through an insulated channel, also not identied, to groove From point ||5 the wire ||2 extends around the bottom surface of groove to a point I6. From the point IIB said wire ||2 continues to a point ||1 where it is connected to a wire lid which is of a smaller cross-sectional area than that of wire I2. This wire I8 is suspended from end member 90 to end member 9| in a path following the central portion of the grooves 98. As shown at a point I9 the wire I8 extends through an insulator washer |20 (see Fig. 6) to a point 2 l. From point |2| wire I I8 is suspended stood by those skilled in the art.

amasser 7A from Vendmember .9| toend member S through the central'portion of the groove 98a to a point |22 from which it extends to collector ring 96 to which it is connected.

The member 54a is adapted to cooperate with member 54 and is adapted for rotation in opposite direction to the rotation of member 54. This member 54a consists of a frame comprising disklike end portions |00 and transverse connecting members |02, such members having formed in their longitudinal faces grooves |08 and |088, said grooves |03 and |08a being positioned to cooperate with the grooves 98 and 98a respectively to arch over the suspended wire H3 in said grooves 98 and 98a. End members |00 and 10| are provided with projecting rims |25 and |2| respectively. These projecting rims are adapted to cooperate with grooves and are positioned at sufcient depth to contact the wire l |2 which lies on the faces of the bottom of the grooves I0 and This member 54eL is provided with a shaft |03 attached thereto by means of screws through a fiange on the end of said shaft. The said shaft is driven by sprocket 55a.

Referring now to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the lower end of the handles A of the lollipops slide on an adjustable strip |3l as they are carried forward by means of the conveyor belt sockets I0. The adjustment of this strip, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, is eifected by means of adjustable screws |32 maintained in selected position by a lock unit |33. In Fig. 5 is illustrated a means of positioning the portion B of a lollipop as it enters the wrapping stations as has been found necessary in cases where crooked or bent lollipop handles are used. Such handles are frequent in cases Where flexible handles are used. This positioning is accomplished by means of two driven sprockets |34 and |35. The sprocket |34 overlies sprocket |35 in an advanced position as will be seen by reference to Fig. 3. Referring again to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the sprockets |34 and |35 Yare attached to a shaft |35 by means of set screws |31. The shaft |35 runs in a bearing |38, this'bearing being supported on the' flange of angle member 22. The sprocket |35 is driven by the socket units i2 as they move forward with the travel of the conveyor belt and this actuates the shaft |35 to which the sprocket |34 is attached and in the manner said sprocket |34 is rotated. The sprocket |34 is positioned on its shaft |35` so that its teeth are above the tops of the nuts I2 and the edges of said teeth will pass on a line :tangent to the hole in socket l0 so that a bent handle of a lollipop is prevented from lagging by the edges of said teeth urging the lollipop forward as is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5.

Coming now to the operation of the device: The handles A of lollipops are placed in the sockets |0. This may be done manually or automatically as the conveyor belt moves toward the wrapping station, the belt being actuated by means of the motor 2| driving through the motor pulley I9, belt 20, reduction gear pulley I9, reduction gear l1, shaft I6 and sprockets I4 and |5, which sprockets I4 and |5 engage nuts |2 and |3 respectively whereby the belt is given a continuous forward motion carrying the sockets I0. While I have shown the belt to be actuated in a continuous motion it is to be understood that intermittent motion may be accomplished by means of ratchets or like as will be readily under- As the lollipops approach the wrapping station they are maintained at a predetermined elevation by the lower 8.. endsof the Ahandles A sliding along the top surface of the lstrip |3|. The purpose of this elevation strip|3| is to maintain the body portions B of the lollipops in proper position as it passes through the wrapping station 54 and 54a so that the wrapper will have the desired marginal dimension around the body portions B. If it is desired to change the elevation of the body portion B of the lollipops this may be accomplished by manipulating adjusting screw |32 and lock nut |33. In practice not all lollipop handles are straight and accordingly the body portions B of some of the lollipops are not central with the socket I0. Any olf-center condition of the body said portions sidewise or forward do not produce objectionable results but an off-center body portion that leans backward, if not corrected, will result in the body portion B being caught between the transverse bars 92 and |02 of the Wrapping station as they rotate toward each other. To avoid this the handles A are engaged by the sprocket |34 which urges and retains the body portion B forward into a central position, which action occurs at the moment bars 92 and |02 of the wrapping station start to approach each other. Rolls C and D of suitable lm or wrapping material as of Pliolm of proper Width are placed on the roll holders 1| and 1 |a respectively. The strip E from roll C is placed in operative position by being led partially around a take-off roll 50, thence partially around a heater roll 52 and thence partially around wrapping station member 54. The strip F from roll D is similarly led around rolls 50a, 52aL and wrapping station member 54a. The stock rolls C and D are not driven but the members 50, 52, 54, 50a, 5?.a and 54a are driven by means of the sprocket chain51 which is driven by sprocket 58, which in turn drives those last mentioned members through sprockets 5|, 53, 55, 5|a, 53a and 55a respectively. Said sprocket chain 51 is kept in correct operating tension by means of adjustable sprocket 56. Sprocket 58 attached to main drive shaft |6 through the medium of sprocket chain 5,1 and sprockets 55 and 55a position members 92 vand |02 vparallel with the path of the belt and at the same instant the sprocket I4 and I5, also attached to the drive shaft I8, positions socket I0 centrally between said wrapping station members 92 and |02. Thus it will be seen that a lollipop body portion carried forward by its handle being inserted in socket I0 will pass the center line :c-a: shown in Fig. 4 of the wrapping station members at the moment the wrapping station bars 92 and |02 are at right angles to said center line. Returning now to the film or wrapping material supply the strip E as it passes around the roll 50 is held in non-slipping contact with said roll by means of the tension exerted on the strip by the dragging action of the brake 14. Since no slippage occurs on the roll 50 the surface travel of the roll and the strip E will be the same. The surface travel of the heated roll 52 is more than the surface travel of the take-off roll 50. Due tothe high frictional resistance to slippage of the film or wrapping material with the heated surface of roll 52 no slippage between the strip E and the roll surface 52 will occur. Because the strip E is delivered from roll 50 to roll 52 at a slower rate of travel than the travel of roll 52 the strip E isstretched. The strip E is relatively inextensible at normal temperatures and accordingly the length of strip E between rolls 50 and 52 will remain in its original condition until it comes to close association with or contacts the heated roll 52 and at that line of contact with roll 52 a continuous elongation of the strip E will take place. However due to the adherence of the heated film or wrapping material to the curved surface of the contacted surface of the roll 52 the width of the strip E will be substantially maintained and the gauge will be reduced in proportion to the increase of travel of roll 52 over that of roll 50.

Due to the flexibility of the method and apparatus involved in this invention it is evident that commercially some users will find it advantageous to use one machine to package various kinds of articles or material. In this event it may be desirable that the lm to be suitable for packaging one type of article should be decreased in gauge from that of the material of the supply roll While for another article of different type a material of an increased gauge from that of the supply roll may be desirable. The reductions of gauge of the material on the supply roll has been thoroughly discussed and for the sake of brevity it is considered advisable to point out only briefly that to increase the gauge of the strips of lm or Wrapping material E and F it will only be necessary to increase the surface travel of the take-olf rolls to a speed of travel greater than that of the heating rolls thereby crowding the strip material onto the heater rolls. Obviously, it may be desirable to employ an idler roll or other means not shown to press the strip of material in non-slipping contact with the take-off rolls and of course when the crowding operation is to be employed the take-off rolls should be moved to a position close to the heating rolls. As will now be readily understood this invention contemplates means for decreasing the gauge of the lm or wrapping material and also to increase its gauge if desired and of course no change in gauge need be made in those cases where the original gauge of the lm or wrapping material is satisfactory.

In a packaging operation of the type employed in this invention it is vitally important that the thin nlm or sheet of wrapping material be heated a uniform required temperature. Since the thickness of said film or wrapping material used maybe as thin as one-thousandth of an inch or less it will acquire in a very short interval of time any variation of temperature from any heat medium to which it is exposed. Heat supply media heretofore known are not satisfactory for use in the operation of this invention. However the roll 52 and 52a has overcome these faults by means of their construction as has been previously described.

The strips of'film or wrapping material E and F travel from rolls 52 and 52a to wrapping station members 50 and 50a. By reference to Figs. 6 and 8 it will be seen that these two members 54 and 54a are of a squirrel cage type and are shown with circular end members connected byv means of transverse bars. The film or wrapping material contacts the wrapping station 54 on the surface of end members 90 and 9| and bridges the grooves IIO and III and as this member rotates the lm or Wrapping material lies on the outer surface of the transverse members 92 and kbridges the grooves 98. A material such as Plioi'llm when heated and anchored to different points it tends to assume a straight line to the point. It will thus be seen that the lm when anchored to end members 99 and to transverse bars S2 it will assume the convex contour. of end member 90 and 9| and will also assume a relatively dat plane across the space between the bars 92, thus forming a pocket like cavity. As the i-llm is delivered from heater roll 52a to wrapping station member 54a the lm or wrapping material will lie in the same relative `position as it will lie on the male protruding surfaces I 20 and I2I on the end members |00 and I0! respectively and the surfaces of |02 bridging the grooves |08 and I'Ila. The nlm or wrapping materialV from its point of contact with 'wrapping station 54 to the point where it contacts projections |20 and I2I of end members |00 and IOI respectively of wrapping station 54a does not touch circumferential wires II2 or the transverse `wires II8. By suitable brushes, not shown, a suitable controlled electrical current is caused to circulate through the wires I I2 land I |8 in series from collector ring 91 to collector ring The wire I I2 which lies in the circumferential grooves IIO and III is of a suiliciently larger` predetermined gauge than wire I I8 which' lies in the transverse grooves [i0 and 93a to cause a sealing temperature to be impartedto the said Wire I2 and a severing temperature to be imparted to Wire I I8. This variation of temperature of these Vwires is due to the difference of their cross-sectional area, both being composed of thesame material. Obviously to those skilled in the art the desired temperatures in these wires may be obtained electrically indifferent ways as for eX- ample bringing the supply of electrical current to Iwires II2 and IIB independently and controlling the temperature of each independently and it is to be understood that such changes are within the conception of my invention. It is also Within the conception of this invention to interrupt the flow of current at any interval or in any portion of the electrical circuit.

The strip E and F progressively converge at the points where the wrappingstations 54 and 54a contact which is approximately on the center line :rshown in Fig. 4. The temperature imparted to the lm or wrapping material by roll 52 and 52*1 is the minimum temperature required to condition the lm or wrapping material to properly shape the required receptacle and extend to cover an object, article or material being packaged. In most cases this temperature just'referred to is lower than that required to cause the converged strips E and F to fuse or seal, consequently, it is necessary to further heat ythe film or wrapping matrial at the points Iwhere it is to be fused or sealed together. It is important that the temperature of thefilm or wrappingV material except at Vthe immediate sealing vbe maintainedat the temperature it is delivered to the wrapping station and that no substantial rise in temperature occurs; accordingly heated rolls have been found to be impractical due to the transfer of heat from such heated rolls to the lm or wrapping material. As the Ystrips E and F progressively approach the line :v -:r as mentioned above they are forced from their bridged position over the grooves IIO and III against the sealing heated wire I|2 by means of the projections I20 and I2I. It is to be noted that the strips E and F are in contact with one another beforev they are forced into the said grooves against the sealing wire. The contact of these converged strips with the heated wire |I2 is only momentary and not until the separate strips are in contact with each other. This is important as continued contact -with a surface hot enough to eiect fusing of the film or `wrapping material results in a rupture and objectionable thinning down ofthe lm or wrapping material. This progressive contact withthe sealing wires seals asseriscel or' fusesV the strips Eand F along their marginal edges except at the grooves 99 where'no contact is made with the heated wires. As the film or wrapping material converges into contact over grooves 9Ba and |08avr ashortl distance prior to reaching center line .r-'the nlm or wrapping material of strips E and' F yare pressed toward wire ||8 by transverse bar |02. When' the bas 92 and |02 reach the center line -x wire I I8 will have severed the strips Eand F"acro"s their transverse width byhavingl forced the hot wire ||18 through said strips into groove |085; It is important at this point to note that the strips E and F are' in rm contact with each other before they are pressed against the heated cutoi wire ||3 which lies below the surface of the bar'92l This' results in a transverse seal of the strips E and F and then the severing through the center of this sealed portion, resulting in two sealed edges one on each side of the severing wire. Ifthe operation just described was continued without feeding lollipops orother articles through the wrapping station it is obvious that the strips E and F' of film or wrapping material would be formed into a series of pillow-like receptacles. It will' also be seen that by omitting wire ||2 in groove that' sacks with an' open end or edge would be formed".` It will' further be seen that various shapes and outlines ofreceptacles and packages can be made by corresponding changes in the shape of the'- wrapping station members 54 and 54a. It is to be understood that the forming of such articles and receptacles are within the scooeof my invention.

Nowreturning' to the operation of passing the lollipops through the wrapping station whereby to cover the lollipopA body portions B and that portion of the handles A that is adjacent to the said' body portions, it will' be seen that as the lollipops are advanced through the wrapping station by havingtheir handles inserted in sockets l they will be encased in the pillow-like receptacles just described. However, as in the case ofthe lollipop, where thebody'portion B'is larger than the receptacle being formed', the body willE be pressed againstthe heated film or wrapping rnaterial thereby increasing the volume of the receptacle without displacing the wrapping material from its held portions onthe'transverse bars and end members of the wrapping station f members.

In practice it is desirable to have a packaging machine capable of packaging` or wrapping articles of different sizes and shapes; Various types of articles;shanes andmaterial'smay bewrapped or packaged with the machine and method comprising thisy invention. Obviously diierent shapes and. sizes of` articles will reduire different sizes and styles of wrapping station members and tov disclosethe manner of accommodating the machine. for such changeswillnow be discussed inirelation to packaging lollipops of various sizes.

Should it bedesired to. wrap a larger lollipop than that. illustrated.' in-.Eig 1Y sufficient space is available between the body portions of: the lollipopsfor a larger body portion toY be carried by vthe-handles in the conveyor bell sockets andV still stituting a suitable pair ofA wrapping' station membersl for' the ones previouslyin use.

As has been indicated: in the detailedv description of the mechanism this change of wrapping station members will be accomplished' as follows: The

idler sprockets 56 are moved so as to release the tension on chain 51 and bearing caps 44 and 44a are removed, thereby allowing wrapping stationA members 54 and 54a' with its sprockets 55 and 55a to be moved from their respective bearings; Bearings 43, 43a, 44-1 and 44a are shifted to their desired position on rods 4|. The setscrews- 4l are loosened and tightened to accomplish the relocation of said bearing. The wrapping station members to be substituted are placedv in their respective bearings with the sprocketsV 55 and 55a attached' in operative position. If different members 50; 50a; 52 and 52a are required'y they may be substituted'in similar manner to that of the packaging station members.- Substitution of different members may make realignment of the strips E" and'F desirable and this is accomplished by the adjusting screws and 'Ila on the roll holder and He. Obviously this interchangeability ofI members makes possible selective arrangements whereby the rate of travel of the lm E and Fon members 50 and 52. and 50a and .52a respectively to affect the thickness of the film or wrapping material in their progressive travel to the wrapping station.

From the foregoing it will be evident' that I have providedv novel' method st'epsrandapparatus for covering various articles. If necessary to facilitate its proper shaping, the hlm or wrapping material may be softened either by heat or by moisture or otherwise, dependent upon the inherent properties of the particular material selected Obviously the invention is susceptible of 'numerous modifications and the right is herein reserved 'co-.make such changesv as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

This application is a true` division of' application Serial No; 627,063, filed November 6, 1945; which in turn is a continuation in part 0f application Serial No- 193,214, led February 28, 1938, now Patent 2,486,758 granted November 1,1949.

I claim:

1. Packaging apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cooperating members formed to accommodate between them the ar'- ticles to be wrapped, means for feeding between said members opposing strips of heat-scalable sheetv material, saidv wrapping members having spaced annular portions for bringing the strips intocontact along narrow longitudinal zones and having spaced axial portions for bringing the strips into contact along narrow'transverse zones between thel successive articles, and electric heating elements mounted in the annular portions of oneY of the wrapping memblrs and exposed directly to the` wrapping strips to seal them together in their contacting longitudinal. zones, said annular portions of the two cooperating wrapping members beingv disposed to act upon the wrapping strips in advance of the heating elements so asv thus to bring the strips into contact before they are heat-sealed. together.

2; Packaging apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of cooperating members adjacLnt to each other and rotatable in opposite directions about relatively parallel axes, means for supplying converging strips of heat-fusible sheet wrappingv material between said cooperating members', an endless conveyor for successively presenting articles to be. wrapped between said converging vstrips and between said cooper- 13 ating members whereby said successive articles will be individually enclosed between successive portions of said strips, and power means for rotating said cooperating members and for propelling said conveyor in synchronism.

3. Packaging apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cooperating Wrapping members formed to accommodate between them the articles to be wrapped; means for feeding between said members opposing strips of heatsealable sheet material, said wrapping members Ahaving spaced annular portions for bringing the strips into contact along narrow longitudinal zones and having spaced axial portions for bringing the strips into contact along narrow transverse zones between the successive articles, and electric heating elements mounted in the axial portions of one of the wrapping members and exposed directly to the wrapping strips to seal them together in their contacting transverse zones, sad axial portions of the two cooperating Wrapping members being disposed to act upon the wrapping strips in advance of the heating elements so as thus to bring the strips into contact before they are heat-sealed together.

"74. Packaging apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cooperating wrapping members formed to accommodate between them the articles to be wrapped, means for feeding between said members opposng strips of heat-sealable sheet material, said wrapping members having spaced annular portions for bringing the strips into contact along narrow longitudinal zones and having spaced axial portions for bringing the strips into contact along narrow transverse zones between the successive articles, and -electric heating elements mounted in both the annular and the axial portions of one of the wrapping members and exposed directly to the wrapping strips to seal them together in their contacting longitudinal zones as well as in their contacting transverse zones, said annular and axial portions of the two cooperating wrapping members being disposed to act unon the wrapping strips in advance of the heating elements so as .thus to bring the strips into contact before they are heat-sealed together.

5. Packaging apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of cooperating members adia- .cent to Veach other and rotatable in opposite dikrections about relatively parallel axes, means for supplying converging strips of heat-fusible sheet wrapping material between said cooperating members, an endless conveyor for successively presenting separate quantities of material to be packaged between said converging strins and between said cooperating members whereby said quantities of material will be individually enclosed between successive portions of said strips, and power means for rotating said cooperating members and for propelling said conveyor in synchronism.

6. A packaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the heating elements act simultaneously to seal the strips together and to cut through them in their contacting transverse zones.

7. A packaging apparatus comprising, in oombination, a pair of rotary wrapping members formed to accommodate between them the articles to be Wrapped, means for feeding between them strips of heat-scalable sheet material. said .wrapping members each being made uo of two spaced y annular end portions only for bringing the strips into contact along narrow longitudinal zones and of two diametrically opposite narrow transverse well as successively fed articles to be enclosed there-between, of supply rolls, heating rolls, strip take-off rolls adapted to deliver the said strips of sheet wrapping material to heating rolls from which said take-01T roll is spaced apart, and means for operating the heating rolls and the take-oir rolls at different peripheral speeds, such that the said delivery is at a rate of travel that is less than the rate of travel of said strips on said heating rolls whereby the said strips are given a linear stretch which occurs progressively over a relatively narrow transverse portion of the said strips adjacent to their contact line with the said heating rolls, the heated convex surfaces of the heating rolls being adapted to prevent narrowing of said strips on said heating roll surfaces, the said strips passing from these heating rolls to between said cooperating members whereby the strips of sheet wrapping material are delivered in a continuous movement from a supply roll to a wrapping station with increased surface area, and reduced thickness and in a heat softened condition.

9. Packaging apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of cooperating members adjacent to each other and rotatable in opposite directions about relatively parallel axes, means for supplying converging strips of heated sheet wrapping material between said cooperating members, an endless conveyor for successively presenting articles to be Wrapped between said converging strips and between said cooperating members whereby said successive articles will be individually enclosed between successive portions of said strips, and power means for rotating said cooperating members and for propelling said conveyor in synchronism.

1l).V Packaging apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of cooperating members rotatable in opposite directions, said members being formed with cooperating openings in them adapted to receive articles to be wrapped, means for supplying opposing webs of sheet packaging material between said cooperating members in such manner that the packaging material overlies said cooperating openings vwhen they are in cooperating position, and electrically energized wires associated with one of said cooperating members, said wires being retained in appropriate grooves extending circumferentially around said member relatively close to the said openings and at least one groove extending transversely of the opposed cooperating member, said opposed cooperating member having raised portions adapted to cooperate with said grooves in such manner as rst to press the opposed webs of packaging material rmly together in said grooves and then into contact with said wires, the wire in the circumferential grooves being of a heavier gauge than that in the transverse groove, a source of electrical current supply suiiicient to heat the heavier gauged wire to a temperature required to fuse the packaging material as it is pressed into the circumferential grooves and to heat the lighter gauge wire-to a temperature required to sever the packaging material as` itv is` pressed. into the transverse grooves whereby. articles to be packaged 'maybe successively presented between said opposing webs of packaging material and be individually enclosed Ybetween successive portions of said webs.

11. In packaging. apparatus of the class described, the combination of` cooperating members, supply rolls, strip take-ofi rolls and heating rolls, all arranged for successive operations, said cooperating members being adapted to receive between them converging strips of sheet wrapping material as Well as successively fed articlesv to be enclosed there-between, and said strip take-01T rolls adapted to. deliver said strips. of sheet wrapping material to. the heating rolls which are spaced from said take-off rolls, and means for operating the heating rolls. and the take-off rolls at diierent peripheral speeds such that the de livery from the take-ofi rolls is at a rate of travel which is less than'the peripheral speed. of the heating rolls whereby the said strips are stretched longitudinally and progressively over a relatively narrow transverse. portion of the said strips adjacent to their lines of contact with` said heating rolls, the heated convex surfaces of the heating rolls being adapted to prevent narrowing of said strips on said heating rollsurfaces, the said strips passing from the heating rolls to. between said cooperating members whereby the strips of sheet Wrapping material are delivered. ina continuous movement from the supply rolls to a Wrapping station with increased surface area and reduced thickness and in a heat-softened condition.

12. A packaging apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary wrapping members formed to accommodate between them the articles to be wrapped, means for feeding between .them strips of heat-scalable sheet. material, said wrapping members each being made up of. two spaced annular end. portions only for. bringing the strips into contact. along narrow longitudinal zones and of two diametrically opposite narrow transverse connecting members only for bringing the strips intor contact along narrow transverse zones, whereby each strip is caused to assume a pocket-like formation at the wrapping station,

and. means for heating the. strips to. sealv them in their contacting transverse zones.

13. In packaging apparatus of the class described, a pair of cooperating members rotatable .in opposite. directions, and. adapted to receive between them opposing webs of packaging material, said membersbeing formed with cooperating openings in them adapted to receive articles tox be wrapped, between the opposing webs, and electrically energized wires associated with oneI of said cooperating members, said wires being re,- tained in appropriate grooves extending circumferentially around said member relatively close to the said openings and at least one groove ex,- tending transversely of the opposed cooperating member, said opposed cooperating member having raised portions adapted to cooperate with said grooves in such manner as rst to press the op,- posed webs of packaging material firmly together in said grooves and then into contact with said wires, the wire in the circumferential grooves being of a heavier gauge than that in the transverse groove, a source of electrical current supply suicient to heat the heavier gaugedwire to a temperature required. to fuse the packaging material as it is pressed into the circumferential grooves and to heat the lighter gauge wire to. a temperature required to sever the packaging. material. as it is pressed into the transverse grooves whereby articles to be packaged may be successively presented between said opposingwebs of packaging material and be individually enclosed between successive portions of said webs.

FRED B. PFEIFFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 16,384 McCrohan et alv July 13, 1926 751,527 Marr Feb. 9, 1904 1,167,036 Witham et al. Jan. 4, 1916 1,191,297 Gardner July 18,1916 1,469,875 Beauregard Oct. 9, 1923 1,481,866 Heist Jan. 29, 1924 2,027,564 Stein et al Jan. 14,1936 2,028,700 Guier Jan. 21, 1936 2,037,825 Salsberg Apr. 21, 1936 2,141,318 Salsberg Dec. 27, 1938 2,152,101 Scherer Mar. 28, 1939 2,293,178 Stocker Aug.. 18, 1942 2,335,190 Minich Nov. 23, 1943 2,403,482 Cloud July 9., 1946 

